1854.] Some Remarks on the Origin of the Afghan people. 585 



by Bai Khan of Bunir ; the Kasidah Suri'ani ; and the Kasidah 

 Bardah by Akhuud Darwezah.* 



There are two valuable lexicographical works, the Bf az-ul-Mahab- 

 bat (Gardens of Friendship) by the Nowab Hafiz Mahabbat Khan, 

 compiled at the request of Sir George Barlow in 1805-6. It is an 

 extensive work of about 700 pages small folio, but is chiefly devoted 

 to the conjugation of the Afghan verbs, which are exceedingly 

 difficult from their irregularity. The author however was a native 

 of Hindustan, and many peculiarities regarding the verbs and tenses, 

 have been omitted. The vocabulary is valuable. The other work 

 entitled iE-aja'ib-ul-Lughat (Curiosities of Language) was written 

 about the year 1808, by Nowab Allah Yar Khan of the Barech. tribe 

 who was also a native of India. The work contains 640 pages of 

 17 lines to a page. 



Kasim Ali Afridi, in one of his odes, besides the authors already 

 mentioned, gives the names of several others — Dowlat, said to have 

 been a Hindu, Meher Ali, Sikunder, Ashraf, Arzani, Mukhlis, Karim. 

 Khan, Kazim Khan surnamed Shaidah, Allah Dad, Karfm Dad, Fazil, 

 Latarr, and Meher Shah, but they are little known. 



There is a host of ballad writers, and some of their compositions, 

 sung by the wandering minstrels are very spirited, and put me in 

 mind of those of our own land. During my residence ut Pesh'awer 

 I had several of them written out. The following is a specimen of 

 one which I have attempted to turn into English ballad style, re- 



* The so-called translation of the Old and New Testaments made by the Serani- 

 pore Missionaries in 1818, bears a very slight resemblance to the sacred writings ; 

 in fact it is quite ridiculous and quite painful to read. I will merely give one 

 specimen, the well known verse from the Sermon on the mount — " Judge not, that 

 ye be not judged." the Pushto is in the following terms ^ Sjbj> ^IjjXo oLai| 

 j-luio &j LGy»> iSJ^ oUaJ| A 2- *^ Do not justice unto any one, lest justice 

 snail be done unto you ! ! ! ! I I Is this Christian doctrine ? verily, if the Infi- 

 dels are to judge of our religion from such translations as this, it is not to be 

 wondered at that they should scoff at, hold our faith in ridicule, and call us 

 Kafirs or Blasphemers. It is quite evident that in making this translation the 

 English has been merely transposed for the Pushto without the slightest considera- 

 tion as to difference of idioms, style, and arrangement of the languages. I trust 

 the other translations of the Scriptures are better than the Pushto one. 



4 K 



